Vice President reiterates importance of Africans taking greater ownership of their development

Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang emphasized the significance of Africans taking a more active role in their own development and shaping their own narratives during the Africa Mindset Reset Forum in Kigali, Rwanda. Pan-Africanism, she reminded, was built on the belief that Africans can collaborate to decide their own destiny. "This conviction must continue to guide our development efforts," she stressed.

The forum, organized by the African School of Governance, offered a space for frank conversations about Africa's history and future. Among those present were Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn Boshe, and former South African President Thabo Mbeki.

Vice President Opoku-Agyemang urged the African School of Governance to invest in locally relevant research and craft solutions tailored to developmental needs. She stressed that education should not only prepare young people for the future, but also equip them with the knowledge, skills, and self-assurance to influence that future.

The discussions also centered on overcoming obstacles and bureaucratic hurdles that continue to impede progress, ensuring policies and institutions enhance the lives of citizens, especially those with fewer opportunities. "We must continually ask where Africa should be, what it will take to get there, and what each of us can do to turn that vision into reality," she concluded.